Display panel with touch detector, touch panel, and electronic unit

ABSTRACT

There are provided a display panel with a touch detector that allows the touch detection electrodes to be less visible, a touch panel, and an electronic unit having the display panel with a touch detector. The display panel with a touch detector includes: a display layer including a plurality of display elements arranged side by side; and an electrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and second regions along a first direction, the electrode layer including a plurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a second direction, and a plurality of second slits each allowing an adjacent pair of the plurality of first slits in the second regions to be in communication with one another.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.14/694,492, filed Apr. 23, 2015, which is a Continuation of applicationSer. No. 13/426,783, filed Mar. 22, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,036,094,issued May 19, 2015, which claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication JP 2011-096021 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Apr.22, 2011. The entire contents of these applications are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a display panel with a touch detectorhaving a function of detecting a touch event due to an externalproximity object based on a change in capacitance, a touch panel, and anelectronic unit having the display panel with a touch detector.

Recently, a display panel has been notified, where a touch detectiondevice, a so-called touch panel, is mounted on a display such as aliquid crystal display, or the touch panel is integrated with thedisplay, and various button images and the like are displayed on thedisplay for inputting information, instead of typical mechanicalbuttons. Such a display panel having the touch panel does not need aninput device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a keypad and thereforetends to be expansively used not only for computers but also forhandheld information terminals such as mobile phones.

A type of the touch panel includes several types such as an optical typeand a resistant type. In particular, a capacitance-type touch panel hasbeen promising as a device allowing low power consumption with arelatively simple structure. For example, Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication No. 2010-197576 discloses a display with a touchdetector having a plurality of counter electrodes (drive electrodes) anda plurality of detection electrodes (touch detection electrodes)crossing the counter electrodes, which detects a touch event based on achange in capacitance, formed at each of the intersections of thecounter electrodes and the detection electrodes, due to an externalproximity object. In the display with a touch detector, for example, thetouch detection electrodes are arrayed at a pitch a natural number timesas large as a pitch of arranged pixels, and therefore the touchdetection electrodes are allowed to be less visible.

SUMMARY

In such a touch panel, the touch detection electrodes are desirablysubstantially not visible, and are promisingly further less visible.

It is desirable to provide a display panel with a touch detector thatallows the touch detection electrodes to be less visible, a touch panel,and an electronic unit having the display panel with a touch detector.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided adisplay panel with a touch detector, including a display layer includinga plurality of display elements arranged side by side; and an electrodelayer alternately segmented into first regions and second regions alonga first direction, the electrode layer including a plurality of firstslits arranged side by side to extend in a second direction, and aplurality of second slits each allowing an adjacent pair of theplurality of first slits in the second regions to be in communicationwith one another.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided a touchpanel including an electrode layer alternately segmented into firstregions and second regions along a first direction, the electrode layerincluding a plurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend ina second direction, and a plurality of second slits allowing theadjacent first slits in the second regions to be in communication withone another.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided anelectronic unit including a display panel with a touch detector, and acontrol section that performs operation control using the display panelwith a touch detector, the display panel including: a display layerincluding a plurality of display elements arranged side by side, and anelectrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and secondregions along a first direction, the electrode layer including aplurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a seconddirection, and a plurality of second slits each allowing an adjacentpair of the plurality of first slits in the second regions to be incommunication with one another. The electronic unit includes, forexample, a television apparatus, a digital camera, a personal computer,a video camera, and a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone.

In the display panel with a touch detector, the touch panel, and theelectronic unit according to the embodiments of the disclosure, thefirst slits extending in the second direction are arranged side by sidein the first and second regions of the electrode layer. In the secondregions, the adjacent first slits are in communication with one anotherthrough the second slits.

According to the display panel with a touch detector, the touch panel,and the electronic unit of the embodiments of the disclosure, the firstslits are arranged side by side in the first and second regions of theelectrode layer, and the adjacent first slits are in communication withone another through the second slits in the second regions, therebyallowing the touch detection electrodes to be less visible.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the technology as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and,together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of thetechnology.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a basic principle of a touchdetection process of a display panel with a touch detector according toembodiments of the disclosure, showing a state where a finger is not incontact with or not in proximity to the display panel.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the touchdetection process of the display panel with a touch detector accordingto the embodiments of the disclosure, showing a state where a finger isin contact with or in proximity to the display panel.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the basic principle of the touchdetection process of the display panel with a touch detector accordingto the embodiments of the disclosure, showing exemplary waveforms of adrive signal and a touch detection signal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of adisplay panel with a touch detector according to an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 5 is a sectional diagram illustrating a schematic sectionalstructure of a display device with a touch detector shown in FIG. 4.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are explanatory diagrams illustrating a pixelarrangement of the display device with a touch detector shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram illustrating exemplary configurations ofdrive electrodes and touch detection electrodes of the display devicewith a touch detector shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration of thetouch detection electrodes shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in a touch detection electrode region and a dummyelectrode region according to a first embodiment.

FIGS. 10A to 10C are plan views illustrating an exemplary configurationof electrode layouts in regions corresponding to pixels shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in the touch detection electrode region and the dummyelectrode region according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in the touch detection electrode region and the dummyelectrode region according to another modification of the firstembodiment.

FIGS. 13A to 13C are plan views illustrating an exemplary configurationof electrode layouts in regions corresponding to pixels shown in FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in a touch detection electrode region and a dummyelectrode region according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in the touch detection electrode region and the dummyelectrode region according to a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in the touch detection electrode region and the dummyelectrode region according to another modification of the secondembodiment.

FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in a touch detection electrode region and a dummyelectrode region according to a third embodiment.

FIGS. 18A and 18B are plan views illustrating an exemplary configurationof electrode layouts in regions corresponding to pixels shown in FIG.17.

FIG. 19 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in a touch detection electrode region and a dummyelectrode region according to a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in a touch detection electrode region and a dummyelectrode region according to a fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are plan views illustrating an exemplary configurationof electrode layouts in regions corresponding to pixels shown in FIG.20.

FIG. 22 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in a touch detection electrode region and a dummyelectrode region according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a plan view illustrating an exemplary configuration ofelectrode layouts in the touch detection electrode region and the dummyelectrode region according to a modification of the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a perspective diagram illustrating an appearanceconfiguration of an application example 1, among display panels with atouch detector applied with the embodiments.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are perspective diagrams illustrating an appearanceconfiguration of an application example 2.

FIG. 26 is a perspective diagram illustrating an appearanceconfiguration of an application example 3.

FIG. 27 is a perspective diagram illustrating an appearanceconfiguration of an application example 4.

FIGS. 28A to 28G are front diagrams, side diagrams, a top diagram, and abottom diagram illustrating an appearance configuration of anapplication example 5.

FIG. 29 is a sectional diagram illustrating a schematic sectionalstructure of a display device with a touch detector according to amodification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be noted thatdescription is made in the following order.

1. Basic Principle of Capacitance-Type Touch Detection

2. First Embodiment

3. Second Embodiment

4. Third Embodiment

5. Fourth Embodiment

6. Fifth Embodiment

7. Application Examples

1. BASIC PRINCIPLE OF CAPACITANCE-TYPE TOUCH DETECTION

First, a basic principle of touch detection of a display panel with atouch detector according to the disclosure is described with referenceto FIGS. 1 to 3. This touch detection process is embodied as acapacitance-type touch sensor. In the capacitance-type touch sensor, forexample, a pair of electrodes (a drive electrode E1 and a touchdetection electrode E2) disposed to face each other with a dielectricbody D in between are used to define a capacitance element, asillustrated in (A) of FIG. 1. Such a structure is expressed as anequivalent circuit illustrated in (B) of FIG. 1. The drive electrode E1,the touch detection electrode E2, and the dielectric body D define acapacitance element C1. One end of the capacitance element C1 isconnected to an AC signal source (drive signal source) S, and the otherend P is grounded through a resistor R and connected to a voltagedetector (touch detection section) DET. After an AC rectangular wave Sg((B) of FIG. 3) having a predetermined frequency (for example,approximately several kilohertz to several tens kilohertz) is appliedfrom the AC signal source S to the drive electrode E1 (one end of thecapacitance element C1), an output waveform (a touch detection signalVdet) as illustrated in (A) of FIG. 3 is shown at the touch detectionelectrode E2 (the other end P of the capacitance element C1). It is tobe noted that the AC rectangular wave Sg corresponds to a drive signalVcom described below.

In the state where a finger is not in contact with (or not in proximityto) the display panel, a current 10 corresponding to a capacitance valueof the capacitance element C1 flows in response to charge and dischargewith respect to the capacitance element C1 as illustrated in FIG. 1.Here, a potential waveform at the other end P of the capacitance elementC1 is, for example, as shown by a waveform V0 in (A) of FIG. 3, which isdetected by the voltage detector DET.

In contrast, in the state where a finger is in contact with (or inproximity to) the display panel, a capacitance element C2 is formed by afinger and added in series to the capacitance element C1 as illustratedin FIG. 2. In this state, a current I1 and a current I2 flow in responseto charge and discharge with respect to the capacitance elements C1 andC2, respectively. Here, a potential waveform at the other end P of thecapacitance element C1 is, for example, as shown by a waveform V1 in (A)of FIG. 3, which is detected by the voltage detector DET. Here, electricpotential of the point P corresponds to a divided potential determinedby the values of the currents I1 and I2 flowing through the respectivecapacitance elements C1 and C2. As a result, the waveform V1 has a smallvalue compared with the waveform V0 in the non-contact state. Thevoltage detector DET compares the detected voltage with a predeterminedthreshold voltage Vth. If the detected voltage is equal to or higherthan the threshold voltage, the voltage detector DET determines that nocontact occurs. If the detected voltage is lower than the thresholdvoltage, the voltage detector DET determines that some contact occurs.In this way, touch detection is performed.

2. FIRST EMBODIMENT [Exemplary Configuration] (Exemplary OverallConfiguration)

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a display panel with atouch detector according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. Sincea touch panel according to the embodiments of the disclosure is embodiedby the first embodiment, the touch panel is described together. Thedisplay panel with a touch detector includes liquid crystal displayelements as display elements, and is of a so-called in-cell type, inwhich a liquid crystal display device configured of the liquid crystaldisplay elements is integrated with a capacitance-type touch detectiondevice. [0049] The display panel with a touch detector 1 includes acontrol section 11, a gate driver 12, a source driver 13, a driveelectrode driver 14, a display device with a touch detector 10, and atouch detection section 40.

The control section 11 is a circuit that supplies a control signal toeach of the gate driver 12, the source driver 13, the drive electrodedriver 14, and the touch detection section 40 based on a video signalVdisp supplied from the outside, and controls the components to operatein synchronization with one another.

The gate driver 12 has a function of sequentially selecting onehorizontal line as a display drive object of the display device with atouch detector 10 based on the control signal supplied from the controlsection 11. In detail, the gate driver 12 applies, through scan signallines GCL, scan signals Vscan to gates of TFT elements Tr of pixels Pix,which are provided in a matrix in a liquid crystal display device 20 ofthe display device with a touch detector 10, to sequentially select onerow (one horizontal line) as a display drive object of the pixels Pix,as described below.

The source driver 13 is a circuit that supplies pixel signals Vpix tothe pixels Pix (described below) of the display device with a touchdetector 10 based on the control signal supplied from the controlsection 11. In detail, the source driver 13 supplies, through pixelsignal lines SGL, the pixel signals Vpix to the pixels Pix defining onehorizontal line, which is sequentially selected by the gate driver 12,as described below. The pixels Pix perform display for the onehorizontal line in response to the supplied pixel signals Vpix.

The drive electrode driver 14 is a circuit that supplies the drivesignals Vcom to drive electrodes COML (described below) of the displaydevice with a touch detector 10 based on the control signal suppliedfrom the control section 11. In detail, the drive electrode driver 14sequentially applies the drive signals Vcom to the drive electrodes COMLin a time-divisional manner. A touch detection device 30 outputs touchdetection signals Vdet based on the drive signals Vcom from a pluralityof touch detection electrodes TDL (described below) to the touchdetection section 40.

The display device with a touch detector 10 is a display device in whicha touch detection function is embedded. The display device with a touchdetector 10 includes the liquid crystal display device 20 and the touchdetection device 30. The liquid crystal display device 20 is a devicethat performs sequential scan by one horizontal line basis forperforming display in response to the scan signals Vscan supplied fromthe gate driver 12, as described below. The touch detection device 30operates on the basis of the above-described basic principle of thecapacitance-type touch detection and outputs the touch detection signalsVdet. The touch detection device 30 performs sequential scan in responseto the drive signals Vcom supplied from the drive electrode driver 14 toperform touch detection, as described 1 below.

The touch detection section 40 detects presence of a touch event in thetouch detection device 30 based on the control signal supplied from thecontrol section 11 and the touch detection signals Vdet supplied fromthe touch detection device 30 of the display device with a touchdetector 10, and determines the coordinates of a touch event in a touchdetection region if the touch event is detected, and outputs thedetermined result as an output signal Out.

(Display Device with Touch Detector 10)

An exemplary configuration of the display device with a touch detector10 is now described in detail.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary sectional structure of a major part ofthe display device with a touch detector 10. The display device with atouch detector 10 includes a pixel substrate 2, a counter substrate 3disposed to face the pixel substrate 2, and a liquid crystal layer 6interposed between the pixel substrate 2 and the counter substrate 3.

The pixel substrate 2 includes a TFT substrate 21 as a circuitsubstrate, the drive electrodes COML, and pixel electrodes 22. The TFTsubstrate 21 functions as a circuit substrate on which various kinds ofelectrodes, wirings, and thin film transistors (TFTs) are provided. TheTFT substrate 21 is configured of, for example, glass. The driveelectrodes COML are provided on the TFT substrate 21. The driveelectrodes COML are electrodes for supplying the common voltage to aplurality of pixels Pix (described below). The drive electrodes COMLfunction as common drive electrodes for liquid crystal displayoperation, and also function as the drive electrodes for touch detectionoperation. While the drive electrodes are commonly used for display andtouch detection herein, the drive electrodes may be separately providedfor respective operations. An insulating layer 23 is provided on thedrive electrodes COML, and the pixel electrodes 22 are provided on theinsulating layer 23. The pixel electrodes 22 are translucent electrodesto be supplied with the pixel signals for display. The drive electrodesCOML and the pixel electrodes 22 include, for example, indium tin oxide(ITO).

The counter substrate 3 includes a glass substrate 31, a color filter32, and the touch detection electrodes TDL. The color filter 32 isprovided on one surface of the glass substrate 31. The color filter 32is configured of, for example, color filter layers of three colors ofred (R), green (G), and blue (B) arrayed periodically, where a set ofthe three colors R, G, and B is associated with each display pixel. Thecolor filter 32 is not limited to the three colors of RGB, and, forexample, may include a color filter layer of another color, or mayinclude color filter layers of two or less colors or of four or morecolors. A translucent layer 33 is provided on the other surface of theglass substrate 31, and a plurality of touch detection electrodes TDL asthe detection electrodes of the touch detection device 30 are arrangedside by side on the translucent layer 33. Dummy electrodes 37 areprovided between the touch detection electrodes TDL in order to allowthe touch detection electrodes TDL to be less visible as describedbelow. The touch detection electrodes TDL and the dummy electrodes 37are translucent electrodes including, for example, ITO, IZO, or SnO. Thetranslucent layer 33 includes an insulating material such as SiN andSiC. The refractive index of the translucent layer 33 has anintermediate value (for example, approximately 1.75 for SiN andapproximately 1.6 for SiC) between the refractive index of the glasssubstrate 31 (for example, approximately 1.5) and the refractive indexof the touch detection electrode TDL (for example, approximately 1.8) ata wavelength around 550 nm relevant to a high luminosity factor. Thetranslucent layer 33 is provided as an index matching layer for reducingreflection of light between the glass substrate 31 and the touchdetection electrodes TDL. A polarizing plate 35 is provided on the touchdetection electrodes TDL, and a cover glass 36 is provided on thepolarizing plate 35. While the translucent layer 33 is provided herein,this is not limitative. For example, the translucent layer 33 may beomitted.

The liquid crystal layer 6 acts as a display functional layer thatmodulates light passing through the liquid crystal layer 6 depending ona state of an electric field. The electric field is formed due to adifference in electric potential between the voltage of each driveelectrode COML and the voltage of each pixel electrode 22. A transversemode of liquid crystal, such as a fringe field switching (FFS) mode andan in-plane switching (IPS) mode, is used for the liquid crystal layer6.

It is to be noted that an alignment film is provided between the liquidcrystal layer 6 and the pixel substrate 2 and between the liquid crystallayer 6 and the counter substrate 3, and an incidence-side polarizingplate is disposed on a bottom of the pixel substrate 2, which areomitted to be shown herein. A circularly polarizing plate or anelliptically polarizing plate is used for the polarizing plate 35 andthe incidence-side polarizing plate (not shown).

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary configuration of the liquidcrystal display device 20, where FIG. 6A shows a circuit diagram, andFIG. 6B shows a pixel arrangement. The liquid crystal display device 20has a plurality of pixels Pix arranged in a matrix. Each pixel Pix isconfigured of three sub-pixels SPix. The respective, three sub-pixelsSPix are disposed in correspondence to the three colors R, G_(S) and Bof the color filter 32 shown in FIG. 5. Each sub-pixel SPix includes aTFT element Tr and a liquid crystal element LC. The TFT element Tr isconfigured of a thin film transistor, which is an n-channel metal oxidesemiconductor (MOS) TFT herein. A source of the TFT element Tr isconnected to the pixel signal line SGL, a gate thereof is connected tothe scan signal line GCL, and a drain thereof is connected to the oneend of the liquid crystal element LC. The one end of the liquid crystalelement LC is connected to the drain of the TFT element Tr, and theother end thereof is connected to the drive electrode COML.

The sub-pixel SPix is connected mutually with other sub-pixels SPix onthe same row of the liquid crystal display device 20 through the scansignal line GCL. The scan signal line GCL is connected to the gatedriver 12 so as to be supplied with the scan signal Vscan from the gatedriver 12. In addition, the sub-pixel SPix is connected mutually withother sub-pixels SPix on the same column of the liquid crystal displaydevice 20 through the pixel signal line SGL. The pixel signal line SGLis connected to the source driver 13 so as to be supplied with the pixelsignal Vpix from the source driver 13.

The pixel signal line SGL and the scan signal line GCL are each disposedalong boundaries between the adjacent sub-pixels SPix on the pixelsubstrate 2, as shown in FIG. 6B. In detail, the pixel signal line SGLis disposed along boundaries between adjacent sub-pixels SPix in ahorizontal direction (x direction), and the scan signal line GCL isdisposed along boundaries between adjacent sub-pixels SPix in a verticaldirection (y direction). The pixel signal line SGL and the scan signalline GCL are each configured of a single-layer film or a multilayer filmincluding aluminum, aluminum alloy, molybdenum, and titanium, forexample. As a result, light does not pass through the regions of thepixel signal lines SGL and the scan signal lines GCL.

Furthermore, the sub-pixel SPix is connected mutually with othersub-pixels SPix on the same row of the liquid crystal display device 20through the drive electrode COML. The drive electrode COML is connectedto the drive electrode driver 14 so as to be supplied with the drivesignal Vcom from the drive electrode driver 14.

According to such a configuration, in the liquid crystal display device20, the gate driver 12 drives the scan signal lines GCL to beline-sequentially scanned in a time-divisional manner, thereby onehorizontal line is sequentially selected, and the source driver 13supplies the pixel signals Vpix to the pixels Pix on the one horizontalline, so that display is performed by one horizontal line basis.

FIG. 7 perspectively illustrates an exemplary configuration of the touchdetection device 30. The touch detection device 30 is configured of thedrive electrodes COML provided on the pixel substrate 2 and the touchdetection electrodes TDL provided on the counter substrate 3. The driveelectrodes COML are configured as a plurality of stripe-shaped electrodepatterns extending in a horizontal direction in the figure. During thetouch detection operation, the drive electrode driver 14 sequentiallysupplies the drive signals Vcom to the electrode patterns for sequentialscan drive of the electrode patterns in a time-divisional manner. Thetouch detection electrodes TDL are configured of electrode patternsextending in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of theelectrode patterns of the drive electrodes COML. The electrode patternsof the touch detection electrodes TDL are connected to the touchdetection section 40. The electrode patterns of the drive electrodesCOML intersect the electrode patterns of the touch detection electrodesTDL, thereby resulting in formation of capacitance at respectiveintersections.

According to such a configuration, in the touch detection device 30, thedrive electrode driver 14 applies the drive signals Vcom to the driveelectrodes COML, so that the touch detection electrodes TDL output thetouch detection signals Vdet for touch detection. Specifically, thedrive electrodes COML correspond to the drive electrode E1 in the basicprinciple of touch detection illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the touchdetection electrodes TDL correspond to the touch detection electrode E2.The touch detection device 30 detects a touch event in accordance withthe basic principle. As illustrated in FIG. 7, a capacitance-type touchsensor is formed in a matrix by the electrode patterns intersecting eachother. Accordingly, a position of contact or proximity of an externalproximity object is detected through scan of the entire touch detectionsurface of the touch detection device 30.

FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the touch detectionelectrodes TDL. In FIG. 8, each touch detection electrode TDL (touchdetection electrode region RT) vertically extends in a y directionacross a display region Sd, and is connected to the touch detectionsection 40 via a frame region Sf in the periphery of the display regionSd through a wiring, for example. The touch detection electrode TDL hasa rectangular opening as shown in FIG. 8. A dummy electrode region RD isprovided in a region of the opening and in a region between adjacenttouch detection electrodes TDL, and a dummy electrode 37 (describedbelow) is provided in each dummy electrode region RD. An electrodelayout in an effective pixel region of each pixel Pix is the samebetween the touch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electroderegion RD, as described below.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the respectiveelectrode layouts in the touch detection electrode region RT and thedummy electrode region RD, showing a portion P shown in FIG. 8 indetail.

In the touch detection electrode region RT, a plurality of electrodepatterns are defined by slits SL extending in the vertical direction (ydirection) in FIG. 9. The plurality of electrode patterns is bundled inthe frame region Sf shown in FIG. 8 into one touch detection electrodeTDL. The slits SL are also provided in the dummy electrode region RD asin the touch detection electrode region RT. Each slit SL is disposed forevery predetermined number (here, three) of sub-pixels SPix in thehorizontal direction (x direction) in FIG. 9. The pitch of the slits SLis desirably small enough to be unrecognizable by human eyes, forexample, 500 μm or less. The dummy electrode region RD also has slitsSLD that extend in the horizontal direction in FIG. 9 to connect theadjacent slits SL to one another. The slits SLD are provided in regionshaving the scan signal lines GCL on the pixel substrate 2. Specifically,the slits SLD are disposed in non-light-transmittable portions. Theslits SLD are disposed for every predetermined number (here, eight) ofpixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix) in the vertical direction in FIG. 9. Thepitch of the slits SLD is desirably small enough to be unrecognizable byhuman eyes, for example, 500 μm or less, as in the slits SL. As aresult, a plurality of dummy electrodes 37, defined by the slits SL andSLD, are formed in the dummy electrode region RD. The dummy electrodes37 are not electrically connected to any other portions, namely,floating.

The slits SL, herein, are provided at positions corresponding to thesub-pixels SPix of blue (B) of the pixels Pix. This is associated withthe fact that the touch detection electrode TDL and the dummy electrode37 each have a light-transmittance lowest at blue (B) between red (R),green (G), and blue (B). Specifically, the slit SL are provided at thepositions corresponding to the sub-pixels SPix of blue (B), whichsuppresses a reduction in intensity of blue light due to the electrodes,leading to suppression of yellowing of chromaticity of white.

The sub-pixel SPix corresponds to a specific example of “displayelement” of the disclosure. The liquid crystal layer 6 corresponds to aspecific example of “display layer” of the disclosure. The touchdetection electrode region RT corresponds to a specific example of“first region” of the disclosure. The dummy electrode region RDcorresponds to a specific example of “second region” of the disclosure.The slit SL corresponds to a specific example of “first slit” of thedisclosure. The slit SLD corresponds to a specific example of “secondslit” of the disclosure. The scan signal line GCL corresponds to aspecific example of “signal line” of the disclosure.

[Functions and Effects]

The functions and effects of the display panel with a touch detector 1according to the embodiment are now described.

(Summary of General Operation)

The control section 11 supplies the control signal to each of the gatedriver 12, the source driver 13, the drive electrode driver 14, and thetouch detection section 40 based on a video signal Vdisp supplied fromthe outside, and thus controls those to operate in synchronization withone another. The gate driver 12 supplies the scan signals Vscan to theliquid crystal display device 20 to sequentially select one horizontalline as a display drive object. The source driver 13 supplies the pixelsignals Vpix to the pixels Pix defining one horizontal line selected bythe gate driver 12. The drive electrode driver 14 sequentially appliesthe drive signals Vcom to the drive electrodes COML. The display devicewith a touch detector 10 performs display operation, and performs touchdetection operation based on the drive signals Vcom to output the touchdetection signals Vdet from the touch detection electrodes TDL. Thetouch detection section 40 detects presence of a touch event in thetouch detection device 30 and determines the coordinates of the touchevent, and outputs the determined result as an output signal Out.

In the display panel with a touch detector 1, the electrode layout in alight-transmittable region (the effective pixel region) of each pixelPix is the same between the touch detection electrode region RT and thedummy electrode region RD. As a result, the amount of the transmittedlight in the touch detection electrode region RT is equal to that in thedummy electrode region RD, and therefore the touch detection electrodesTDL are allowed to be less visible. This is described further in detailbelow.

FIGS. 10A to 10C illustrate the electrode layouts in the effective pixelregions, where FIG. 10A illustrates the electrode layout in the touchdetection electrode region RT, and FIGS. 10B and 10C illustrate theelectrode layouts in the dummy electrode region RD. FIG. 10B illustratesthe electrode layout in the effective pixel region of a pixel PixD shownin FIG. 9. FIG. 10C illustrates the electrode layout in the effectivepixel region of a pixel PixD2.

As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the electrode layout for a pixel PixT inthe touch detection electrode region RT is the same as that for a pixelPixD in the dummy electrode region RD. As a result, the electrode layoutin each effective pixel region (a region without the scan signal linesGCL and the pixel signal lines SGL) of the pixel PixT is the same asthat in the effective pixel region of the pixel PixD. In detail, amongthe effective pixel regions of the pixel PixT, regions of the sub-pixelsSPix of red (R) and green (G) are provided with an electrode (touchdetection electrode TDL) covering the entire regions, and a region ofthe sub-pixel SPix of blue (B) is provided with an electrode (touchdetection electrode TDL) covering a part of the region, the regionsbeing hatched in FIG. 10A. Similarly, among the effective pixel regionsof the pixel PixD, regions of the sub-pixels SPix of red (R) and green(G) are provided with an electrode (dummy electrode 37) covering theentire regions, and a region of the sub-pixel SPix of blue (B) isprovided with an electrode (dummy electrode 37) covering a part of theregion, the regions being hatched in FIG. 10B.

In contrast, the electrode layout for the pixel PixD2 in the dummyelectrode region RD (FIG. 10C) is slightly different from the electrodelayout for the pixel PixT (FIG. 10A) and the electrode layout for thepixel PixD (FIG. 10B), as shown in FIGS. 10A to 10C. However, theelectrode layout in each effective pixel region of the pixel PixD2 isthe same as that of the pixel PixT and of the pixel PixD. Specifically,among the effective pixel regions of the pixel PixD2, regions of thesub-pixels SPix of red (R) and green (G) are provided with an electrode(dummy electrode 37) covering the entire regions, and a region of thesub-pixel SPix of blue (B) is provided with an electrode (dummyelectrode 37) covering a part of the region, the regions being hatchedin FIG. 10C.

In this way, in the display panel with a touch detector 1, the touchdetection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD have thesame electrode layout pattern in the effective pixel region. As aresult, in the liquid crystal display device 20 of the display devicewith a touch detector 10, for example, even if the pixels Pix displaythe same color for uniform display over the entire screen, the amount ofthe transmitted light in the touch detection electrode region RT isequal to that in the dummy electrode region RD, and therefore the touchdetection electrodes TDL are allowed to be less visible.

It is to be noted that since the touch detection electrodes TDL areprovided in a layer different from a layer of the color filter 31 asshown in FIG. 5, although the slits SL are located in correspondence tothe sub-pixels SPix of blue (B) as viewed from a display screen from thefront, if a viewer views the display screen in an oblique direction, forexample, the slits SL may be seen to be at positions corresponding tothe sub-pixels SPix of green (G), thereby leading to a possibility ofdeviation of chromaticity. In this case, in the display panel with atouch detector 1, since the electrode layout pattern in the effectivepixel region is also the same between the pixel PixT, the pixel PixD,and the pixel PixD2, the deviation of chromaticity in the touchdetection electrode region RT is the same as that in the dummy electroderegion RD, and therefore the touch detection electrodes TDL are allowedto be less visible.

In addition, in the display panel with a touch detector 1, the slits SLDare disposed for every eight pixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix) in thevertical direction (y direction) in FIG. 9 in the dummy electrode regionRD. As a result, the electrode layout pattern in the dummy electroderegion RD is similar to the electrode layout pattern in the touchdetection electrode region RT without slits extending in the horizontaldirection (x direction), compared with a case where the slits SLD areprovided for every one pixel Pix in the dummy electrode region RD.Consequently, since the electrode layout pattern in the dummy electroderegion RD is similar to that in the touch detection electrode region RT,the touch detection electrodes TDL in the touch detection electroderegion RT are less visible even if externally incident light isreflected by the electrodes, for example.

[Effects]

As described above, in the embodiment, since an occupancy of electrodesin the effective pixel region of each pixel is the same between thetouch detection electrode region and the dummy electrode region, theamount of the transmitted light is the same between the two electroderegions, and therefore the touch detection electrodes TDL are allowed tobe less visible.

In addition, in the embodiment, since the electrode layout pattern inthe effective pixel region in the touch detection electrode region isthe same as that in the dummy electrode region, the amount of thetransmitted light is the same between the sub-pixels having the samecolor in the respective two electrode regions, and therefore the touchdetection electrodes TDL are allowed to be less visible.

In addition, in the embodiment, since the slits SLD are provided forevery several pixels, the electrode layout pattern in the touchdetection electrode region is similar to that in the dummy electroderegion, and therefore the touch detection electrodes TDL are allowed tobe less visible even if externally incident light is reflected by theelectrodes.

[Modification 1-1]

While the slits SL are disposed for every three sub-pixels SPix, and theslits SLD are disposed for every eight pixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix) inthe first embodiment, this is not limitative. The slits SL may bedisposed for every two or less or every four or more sub-pixels SPix.Alternatively, the slits SLD may be disposed for every seven or less orevery nine or more pixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix). FIG. 11 illustrates anelectrode layout where the slits SL are disposed for every one sub-pixelSPix, and the slits SLD are disposed for every four pixels Pix(sub-pixels SPix). This also allows the touch detection electrodes TDLto be less visible, as in the first embodiment.

[Modification 1-2]

While each sub-pixel SPix has a rectangular shape in the firstembodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the sub-pixel SPix may havea shape of a parallelogram, for example, as shown in FIG. 12. In thiscase, the electrode layout in the effective pixel region of the pixelPixT, hatched in FIG. 13A, is also the same as the electrode layout ineach of the effective pixel regions of the pixel PixD and the pixelPixD2, hatched in FIGS. 13B and 13C, as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C. As aresult, the touch detection electrodes TDL are less visible as in thefirst embodiment.

3. SECOND EMBODIMENT

A display panel with a touch detector 120 according to a secondembodiment is now described. In the second embodiment, the touchdetection electrode region RT also has slits extending in a directioncrossing the slits SL. It is to be noted that substantially the samecomponents as those of the display panel with a touch detector 1according to the first embodiment are designated by the same numerals,and description of them is appropriately omitted.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary configuration of electrode layouts inthe touch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode regionRD of the display panel with a touch detector 120. It is to be notedthat the scan signal lines GCL are illustrated by a thick line in FIG.14 for convenience of the description.

The touch detection electrode region RT has slits SLT extending in thehorizontal direction (x direction) in FIG. 14. The slits SLT areprovided at positions corresponding to the scan signal lines GCL as inthe slits SLD provided in the dummy electrode region RD. The slits SLTand the slits SLD are, herein, disposed for every one pixel Pix(sub-pixel SPix) in the vertical direction (y direction) in FIG. 14. Theslits SLT extend right and left from a slit SL as the center. The lengthof the slit SLT is equal to the width of the pixel Pix in the horizontaldirection in FIG. 14. The width of the slit SLT is the same as the widthof the slit SLD. The slits SLT on the adjacent slits SL are arranged ina staggered configuration in the vertical direction in FIG. 14.

The slit SLT corresponds to a specific example of “third slit” of thedisclosure.

According to such a configuration, in the display panel with a touchdetector 120, as in the display panel with a touch detector 1 of thefirst embodiment, since the electrode layout in the effective pixelregion of each pixel is the same between the touch detection electroderegion RT and the dummy electrode region RD, the amount of thetransmitted light is the same between the two electrode regions, andtherefore the touch detection electrodes TDL2 are allowed to be lessvisible.

In addition, in the display panel with a touch detector 120, the slitsSLT are provided in the touch detection electrode region RT, so that thetouch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RDhave the same occupancy of electrodes per unit area, and besides havethe electrode layout patterns similar to each other. Specifically, inthe display panel with a touch detector 120, the dummy electrode regionRD has the slits SLD for every pixel Pix (sub-pixel SPix) arranged sideby side in the vertical direction (y direction) in FIG. 14. In thiscase, the touch detection electrode region RT also has the slits SLT forevery one pixel Pix (sub-pixel SPix) arranged side by side in thevertical direction in FIG. 14, so that the touch detection electroderegion RT and the dummy electrode region RD have the electrode layoutpatterns similar to each other compared with the case where the touchdetection electrode region RT does not have the slits SLT as in thefirst embodiment. As a result, in the display panel with a touchdetector 120, the touch detection electrodes TDL2 are less visible evenif externally incident light is reflected by the electrodes, forexample.

In other words, the display panel with a touch detector 1 according tothe first embodiment is configured such that the number of the slits SLDis small in the dummy electrode region RD so that the touch detectionelectrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD have the electrodelayout patterns similar to each other even if the slits SLT are notprovided in the touch detection electrode region RT.

In contrast, the display panel with a touch detector 120 according tothe second embodiment is configured such that the slits SLT are alsoprovided in the touch detection electrode region RT in the same way asthe slits SLD in the dummy electrode region RD, so that the touchdetection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD have thesame occupancy of electrodes per unit area, and have electrode layoutpatterns similar to each other. As a result, for example, even if alarge number of slits SLD are arranged in the dummy electrode region RD,a similar number of slits SLT are provided in the touch detectionelectrode region RT, thereby allowing the touch detection electrodesTDL2 to be less visible.

As described above, in the second embodiment, since the touch detectionelectrode region has the slits SLT, for example, even if a large numberof slits SLD are arranged in the dummy electrode region, the touchdetection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD have thesame occupancy of electrodes per unit area, and have electrode layoutpatterns similar to each other, and therefore the touch detectionelectrodes are allowed to be less visible. Other effects are similar tothose in the first embodiment.

[Modification 2-1]

While the slits SL are disposed for every three sub-pixels SPix in thesecond embodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the slits SL may bedisposed for every two or less or every four or more sub-pixels SPix,for example. FIG. 15 illustrates an example where the slits SL aredisposed for every one sub-pixel SPix. In this case, the touch detectionelectrodes TDL2A are also less visible as in the second embodiment.

[Modification 2-2]

While the slits SLD and the slits SLT are each disposed for every onepixel Pix (sub-pixel SPix) in the second embodiment, this is notlimitative. Instead, the slits SLD and SLT may be each disposed forevery two or more pixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix), for example. FIG. 16illustrates an example where the slits SLD and the slits SLT are eachdisposed for every two pixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix). In this case, thetouch detection electrodes TDL2B are also less visible as in the secondembodiment.

[Other Modification]

While each sub-pixel SPix has a rectangular shape in the secondembodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the sub-pixel SPix may havea shape of a parallelogram, as in the modification 1-2 of the firstembodiment.

4. THIRD EMBODIMENT

A display panel with a touch detector 130 according to a thirdembodiment is now described. The third embodiment corresponds to thedisplay panel with a touch detector 120 according to the secondembodiment, modified such that the slits SLD in the dummy electroderegion RD are arranged in a staggered configuration in the same way asthe slits SLT in the touch detection electrode region RT. It is to benoted that substantially the same components as those of the displaypanel with a touch detector 120 according to the second embodiment aredesignated by the same numerals, and description of them isappropriately omitted.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary configuration of electrode layouts inthe touch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode regionRD of the display panel with a touch detector 130. It is to be notedthat the scan signal lines GCL are illustrated by a thick line forconvenience of the description in FIG. 17.

In the display panel with a touch detector 130, the slits SLD adjacentto one another in the horizontal direction (x direction) in FIG. 17 arearranged in the dummy electrode region RD in a staggered configurationin the same way as the slits SLT in the touch detection electrode regionRT. As a result, in the display panel with a touch detector 130, thetouch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RDhave the electrode layout patterns further similar to each othercompared with the display panel with a touch detector 120 according tothe second embodiment, and therefore the touch detection electrodes TDL2are allowed to be further less visible even if externally incident lightis reflected by the electrodes, for example.

As described above, in the third embodiment, since the slits SLD in thedummy electrode region RD are arranged in a staggered configuration inthe same way as the slits SLT in the touch detection electrode regionRT, the touch detection electrodes are allowed to be further lessvisible. Other effects are similar to those in the second embodiment.

[Modification 3-1]

In the third embodiment, while both the slits SLT and the slits SLD arearranged in a staggered configuration in the regions having the scansignal lines GCL, this is not limitative. Instead, the slits SLT and SLDmay be arranged in a staggered configuration across the respectiveregions having the scan signal lines GCL. In such a case, for example,as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, although an electrode layout pattern inthe effective pixel region of a pixel PixT, hatched in FIG. 18A, isslightly different from an electrode layout pattern in the effectivepixel region of a pixel PixD, hatched in FIG. 18B, the occupancy ofelectrodes is the same between the two effective pixel regions, andtherefore the touch detection electrodes TDL2 are allowed to be lessvisible as in the third embodiment.

[Modification 3-2]

While the slits SL are disposed for every three sub-pixels SPix in thethird embodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the slits SL may bedisposed for every two or less or every four or more sub-pixels SPix,for example. FIG. 19 illustrates an example where the slits SL aredisposed for every one sub-pixel SPix. In this case, the touch detectionelectrodes TDL2A are also less visible as in the third embodiment.

[Other Modification]

While each sub-pixel SPix has a rectangular shape in the thirdembodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the sub-pixel SPix may havea shape of a parallelogram as in the modification 1-2 of the firstembodiment.

5. FOURTH EMBODIMENT

A display panel with a touch detector 140 according to a fourthembodiment is now described. The fourth embodiment corresponds to thedisplay panel with a touch detector 120 according to the secondembodiment, modified such that the slits SLT in the touch detectionelectrode region RT and the slits SLD in the dummy electrode region RDare arranged to extend obliquely. It is to be noted that substantiallythe same components as those of the display panel with a touch detector120 according to the second embodiment are designated by the samenumerals, and description of them is appropriately omitted.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary configuration of electrode layouts inthe touch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode regionRD of the display panel with a touch detector 140. In the display panelwith a touch detector 140, each sub-pixel SPix has a shape of aparallelogram, and the slits SLT in the touch detection electrode regionRT and the slits SLD in the dummy electrode region RD accordinglyobliquely extend in the respective regions having the scan signal linesGCL. In the touch detection electrode region RT, the slits SLT on theadjacent slits SL are arranged in the same positions in the verticaldirection in FIG. 20, unlike in the third embodiment (FIG. 17).

As a result, in the display panel with a touch detector 140, the touchdetection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD haveelectrode layout patterns similar to each other, and therefore the touchdetection electrodes TDL4 are allowed to be less visible even ifexternally incident light is reflected by the electrodes, for example.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, the slits SLT and theslits SLD extend obliquely, and therefore the touch detection electrodesare allowed to be less visible without forming the slits in thestaggered configuration as in the second embodiment. Other effects aresimilar to those in the second embodiment.

Modification 4-1

While both the slits SLT and the slits SLD are provided in the regionshaving the scan signal lines GCL, this is not limitative. Instead, theslits SLT and SLD may protrude from the respective regions having thescan signal lines GCL. In such a case, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B,although an electrode layout pattern in the effective pixel region ofthe pixel PixT, hatched in FIG. 21A, is slightly different from anelectrode layout pattern in the effective pixel region of the pixelPixD, hatched in FIG. 21B, the occupancy of electrodes is substantiallythe same between the two effective pixel regions, thereby allowing thetouch detection electrodes TDL4 to be less visible as in the fourthembodiment.

[Other Modification]

While the slits SL are disposed for every three sub-pixels SPix in thefourth embodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the slits SL may bedisposed for every two or less or every four or more sub-pixels SPix,for example.

While the slits SLD and the slits SLT are each disposed for every onepixel Pix (sub-pixel SPix) in the fourth embodiment, this is notlimitative. Instead, the slits SLD and SLT may be each disposed forevery two or more pixels Pix (sub-pixels SPix), for example.

While each sub-pixel SPix has a shape of a parallelogram in the fourthembodiment, this is not limitative. Instead, the sub-pixel SPix may havea rectangular shape as in the third embodiment and others.

6. FIFTH EMBODIMENT

A display panel with a touch detector 150 according to a fifthembodiment is now described. The fifth embodiment corresponds to thedisplay panel with a touch detector 120 according to the secondembodiment, modified such that the slits SLT in the touch detectionelectrode region RT are formed thick instead of disposing the slits SLTin a staggered configuration. It is to be noted that substantially thesame components as those of the display panel with a touch detector 120according to the second embodiment are designated by the same numerals,and description of them is appropriately omitted.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary configuration of electrode layouts inthe touch detection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode regionRD of the display panel with a touch detector 150. Each slit SLT in thetouch detection electrode region RT has a length shorter than the widthof a pixel Pix in a horizontal direction (x direction) in FIG. 22, andhas a width larger than that of each slit SLD in the dummy electroderegion RD. As a result, the touch detection electrode region RT and thedummy electrode region RD have the same occupancy of electrodes per unitarea. The slits SLT on the adjacent slits SL are arranged in the samepositions in the vertical direction (y direction) in FIG. 22.

As a result, in the display panel with a touch detector 150, the touchdetection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD haveelectrode layout patterns similar to each other, and therefore the touchdetection electrodes TDL5 are allowed to be less visible even ifexternally incident light is reflected by the electrodes, for example.

As described above, in the fifth embodiment, the slits SLT are formedthick, thereby allowing the touch detection electrodes to be lessvisible without forming the slits in a staggered configuration as in thesecond embodiment. Other effects are similar to those in the secondembodiment.

[Modification 5-1]

While each slit SLT extends right and left from the slit SL in the fifthembodiment, this is not limitative. For example, the slits SLT may beseparated from the slits SL as shown in FIG. 23. In this case, the touchdetection electrode region RT and the dummy electrode region RD alsohave electrode layout patterns similar to each other, and therefore thetouch detection electrodes TDL5A are allowed to be less visible as inthe fifth embodiment.

7. APPLICATION EXAMPLES

Application examples of each display panel with a touch detector in theabove-described embodiments and modifications are now described withreference to FIGS. 24 to 28G. The display panel with a touch detectordescribed in the embodiments and others is applicable to electronicunits in various fields, including a television apparatus, a digitalcamera, a notebook personal computer, a mobile terminal device such as amobile phone, and a video camera. In other words, the display panel witha touch detector in the embodiments and others is applicable toelectronic units in various fields for displaying externally-input orinternally-generated video signals as still or video images.

Application Example 1

FIG. 24 shows appearance of a television apparatus applied with thedisplay panel with a touch detector according to the embodiments andothers. The television apparatus has, for example, an image displayscreen section 510 including a front panel 511 and filter glass 512. Theimage display screen section 510 is configured of the display panel witha touch detector according to the embodiments and others.

Application Example 2

FIGS. 25A and 25B show appearance of a digital camera applied with thedisplay panel with a touch detector according to the embodiments andothers. The digital camera has, for example, a light emitting sectionfor flash 521, a display section 522, a menu switch 523, and a shutterbutton 524. The display section 522 is configured of the display panelwith a touch detector according to the embodiments and others.

Application Example 3

FIG. 26 shows appearance of a notebook personal computer applied withthe display panel with a touch detector according to the embodiments andothers. The notebook personal computer has, for example, a main body531, a keyboard 532 for input operation of letters and the like, and adisplay section 533 for displaying images. The display section 533 isconfigured of the display panel with a touch detector according to theembodiments and others.

Application Example 4

FIG. 27 shows appearance of a video camera applied with the displaypanel with a touch detector according to the embodiments and others. Thevideo camera has, for example, a main body section 541, anobject-shooting lens 542 provided on a front side face of the main bodysection 541, a start/stop switch 543 for shooting, and a display section544. The display section 544 is configured of the display panel with atouch detector according to the embodiments and others.

Application Example 5

FIGS. 28A to 28G show appearance of a mobile phone applied with thedisplay panel with a touch detector according to the embodiments andothers. For example, the mobile phone is configured of an upper housing710 and a lower housing 720 connected to each other by a hinge section730, and has a display 740, a sub display 750, a picture light 760, anda camera 770. The display 740 or the sub display 750 is configured ofthe display panel with a touch detector according to the embodiments andothers.

While the present technology has been described with the severalembodiments, the modifications, and the application examples toelectronic units hereinbefore, the technology is not limited to theembodiments and others, and various modifications or alterations may bemade.

For example, while the drive electrodes COML are provided on the TFTsubstrate 21 and the pixel electrodes 22 are provided on the driveelectrodes COML with the insulating film 23 therebetween in theembodiments and others, this is not limitative. Instead, for example,the pixel electrodes 22 may be provided on the TFT substrate 21, and thedrive electrodes COML may be provided on the pixel electrodes 22 withthe insulating film 23 therebetween.

For example, although the liquid crystal display device including atransverse electric mode of liquid crystal, such as a FFS mode and anIPS mode, is integrated with the touch detection device in theembodiments and others, a liquid crystal display device includingvarious other modes of liquid crystal, such as a twisted nematic (TN)mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, and an electrically controlledbirefringence (ECB) mode, may be integrated with the touch detectiondevice, instead. In the case where such types of liquid crystal areused, the display device with a touch detector is configured as shown inFIG. 29. FIG. 29 illustrates an exemplary sectional structure of a majorpart of a display device with a touch detector 10B according to amodification, and illustrates a configuration where a liquid crystallayer 6B is sandwiched between a pixel substrate 2B and a countersubstrate 3B. Since names, functions, and the like of other sections aresimilar to those in FIG. 5, description of them is omitted. Thisexemplary device is different from the device of FIG. 5 in that thedrive electrodes COML used for both display and touch detection areprovided on the counter substrate 3B.

In addition, for example, although a so-called in-cell type, where aliquid crystal display device is integrated with a capacitance-typetouch detection device, is used in the above-described embodiments andothers, this is not limitative. Instead, for example, a so-calledon-cell type, where the capacitance-type touch detection device isprovided on the liquid crystal display device, may be used.Alternatively, the capacitance-type touch detection device may beseparated from the display section.

In addition, for example, although the liquid crystal elements are usedfor the display elements in the above-described embodiments and others,this is not limitative. Instead, electro luminescence (EL) elements maybe used, for example.

It is possible to achieve at least the following configurations from theabove-described exemplary embodiments and the modifications of thedisclosure.

(1) A display panel with a touch detector, including:

a display layer including a plurality of display elements arranged sideby side; and

an electrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and secondregions along a first direction, the electrode layer including aplurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a seconddirection, and a plurality of second slits each allowing an adjacentpair of the plurality of first slits in the second regions to be incommunication with one another.

(2) The display panel according to (1), further including a wiring layerhaving a plurality of signal lines extending in the first directionbetween the adjacent display elements arranged in the second direction,wherein

one of the second slits is provided in a region corresponding to any oneof the signal lines.

(3) The display panel according to (2), wherein the one of the secondslits is provided every predetermined number of the signal lines.

(4) The display panel according to (2) or (3), wherein the electrodelayer further including a plurality of third slits each disposed not toallow an adjacent pair of the first slits in the first regions to be incommunication with one another.

(5) The display panel according to (4), wherein one of the second slitsand one of the third slits are provided in a region corresponding to anyone of the signal lines.

(6) The display panel according to (4) or (5), wherein the third slitsadjacent to each other in the first direction are provided at differentpositions in the second direction.

(7) The display panel according to (6), wherein the second slitsadjacent to each other in the first direction are provided at differentpositions in the second direction.

(8) The display panel according to (6), wherein the second slitsadjacent to each other in the first direction are provided at the samepositions in the second direction.

(9) The display panel according to any one of (6) to (8), wherein

the second slits and the third slits extend in the first direction, and

a width of each of the second slits is equal to a width of each of thethird slits.

(10) The display panel according to (4) or (5), wherein

the third slits adjacent to each other in the first direction areprovided at the same positions in the second direction, and

the second slits adjacent to each other in the first direction areprovided at the same positions in the second direction.

(11) The display panel according to (10), wherein the second slits andthe third slits extend in a third direction different from the firstdirection.

(12) The display panel according to (10), wherein

the second slits and the third slits extend in the first direction, and

a width of each of the third slits is larger than a width of each of thesecond slits.

(13) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (12), wherein oneof the first slits is provided for every predetermined number of thedisplay elements in the first direction.

(14) The display panel according to (13), wherein

each of the display elements defines a display pixel including a reddisplay element, a green display element, and a blue display element,and

the first slits are provided at positions corresponding to the bluedisplay elements.

(15) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (14), wherein

the electrode layer includes a plurality of dummy electrodes defined bythe first and second slits, and

the dummy electrodes are electrically floated.

(16) The display panel according to any one of (1) to (15), furtherincluding drive electrodes extending in a direction crossing the seconddirection, wherein

the electrode layer includes detection electrodes including a pluralityof electrode patterns defined by the first slits in the first regions,and

each of intersections between the detection electrodes and the driveelectrodes has capacitance.

(17) The display panel according to (16), wherein each of the displayelements includes

a liquid crystal layer, and

pixel electrodes provided between the liquid crystal layer and the driveelectrodes, or disposed to face the liquid crystal layer with the driveelectrodes in between.

(18) The display panel according to (16), wherein each of the displayelements includes

a liquid crystal layer, and

pixel electrodes disposed to face the drive electrodes with the liquidcrystal layer in between.

(19) A touch panel including:

an electrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and secondregions along a first direction, the electrode layer including aplurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a seconddirection, and a plurality of second slits allowing the adjacent firstslits in the second regions to be in communication with one another.

(20) An electronic unit including a display panel with a touch detector,and a control section that performs operation control using the displaypanel with a touch detector, the display panel including:

a display layer including a plurality of display elements arranged sideby side, and

an electrode layer alternately segmented into first regions and secondregions along a first direction, the electrode layer including aplurality of first slits arranged side by side to extend in a seconddirection, and a plurality of second slits each allowing an adjacentpair of the plurality of first slits in the second regions to be incommunication with one another.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display panel with a touch detector,comprising: a display layer including a plurality of display elementsarranged side by side; an electrode layer extending in a first directionand a second direction crossing the first direction; a touch detectionelectrode, which has only a single opening having a closed outline andwhich extends in the second direction, a plurality of the touchdetection electrodes being arranged in the first direction; a pluralityof dummy electrodes disposed in the single opening of the respectivetouch detection electrode, wherein the dummy electrodes in the openingof the touch detection electrode are arranged in the first direction andthe second direction; a plurality of first slits each disposed betweenthe dummy electrodes adjacent in the first direction; and a plurality ofsecond slits each disposed between the dummy electrodes adjacent in thesecond direction.
 2. The display panel with a touch detector accordingto claim 1, wherein the display panel has a display region and a frameregion around the display region in a plan view, the touch detectionelectrode extends over the frame region and the display region in thesecond direction.
 3. The display panel with a touch detector accordingto claim 1, wherein no dummy electrode is arranged between the adjacenttwo touch detection electrodes.
 4. The display panel according to claim1, further comprising a wiring layer having a plurality of signal linesextending in the first direction between the adjacent display elementsarranged in the second direction, wherein one of the second slits isprovided in a region corresponding to anyone of the signal lines.
 5. Thedisplay panel according to claim 4, wherein the one of the second slitsis provided every predetermined number of the signal lines.
 6. Thedisplay panel according to claim 4, wherein the electrode layer furtherincluding a plurality of third slits, and each of the third slitsintersects with only one of the first slits.
 7. The display panelaccording to claim 6, wherein one of the second slits and one of thethird slits are provided in a region corresponding to anyone of thesignal lines.
 8. The display panel according to claim 7, wherein thethird slits adjacent to each other in the first direction are providedat different positions in the second direction.
 9. The display panelaccording to claim 8, wherein the second slits adjacent to each other inthe first direction are provided at different positions in the seconddirection.
 10. The display panel according to claim 8, wherein thesecond slits adjacent to each other in the first direction are providedat the same positions in the second direction.
 11. The display panelaccording to claim 8, wherein the second slits and the third slitsextend in the first direction, and a width of each of the second slitsis equal to a width of each of the third slits.
 12. The display panelaccording to claim 7, wherein the third slits adjacent to each other inthe first direction are provided at the same positions in the seconddirection, and the second slits adjacent to each other in the firstdirection are provided at the same positions in the second direction.13. The display panel according to claim 12, wherein the second slitsand the third slits extend in a third direction different from the firstdirection.
 14. The display panel according to claim 12, wherein thesecond slits and the third slits extend in the first direction, and awidth of each of the third slits is larger than a width of each of thesecond slits.
 15. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein one ofthe first slits is provided for every predetermined number of thedisplay elements in the first direction.
 16. The display panel accordingto claim 15, wherein each of the display elements defines a displaypixel including a red display element, a green display element, and ablue display element, and the first slits are provided at positionscorresponding to the blue display elements.
 17. The display panelaccording to claim 1, wherein the dummy electrodes are electricallyfloated.
 18. The display panel with a touch detector according to claim1, wherein the dummy electrodes are disposed in a region in which thetouch detection electrode is not disposed and in the single opening ofthe respective touch detection electrode.
 19. A touch panel comprising:an electrode layer extending in a first direction and a second directioncrossing the first direction; a touch detection electrode, which hasonly a single opening having a closed outline and which extends in thesecond direction, a plurality of the touch detection electrodes beingarranged in the first direction; a plurality of dummy electrodesdisposed in the single opening of the respective touch detectionelectrode, wherein the dummy electrodes in the opening of the touchdetection electrode are arranged in the first direction and the seconddirection; a plurality of first slits each disposed between the dummyelectrodes adjacent in the first direction; and a plurality of secondslits each disposed between the dummy electrodes adjacent in the seconddirection.
 20. A display panel with a touch detector, comprising: adisplay layer including a plurality of display elements arranged side byside; an electrode layer extending in a first direction and a seconddirection crossing the first direction; a touch detection electrode,which has only a single opening having a closed outline and whichextends in the second direction, a plurality of the touch detectionelectrodes being arranged in the first direction; and a plurality ofdummy electrodes disposed in the single opening of the respective touchdetection electrode, wherein the dummy electrodes are electricallyfloated.